श्रीमद्-विष्ण्वंघ्रि-निष्ठातिगुण-गुरु-तम-श्रीमदानंद-तीर्थ-
त्रैलोक्याचार्य-पादोज्ज्वल-जलज-लसत्-पांसवोऽस्मान्-पुनंतु ।
वाचां यत्र प्रणेत्री त्रि-भुवन-महिता शारदा शारदेंदु-
ज्योत्स्ना-भद्र-स्मित-श्री-धवळित-ककुभा प्रेम-भारं बभारSrImad-viShNvaMGri-niShThAtiguNa-guru-tama-SrImadAnaMda-tIrtha-
trailokyAcArya-pAdojjvala-jalaja-lasat-pAMsavo&smAn-punaMtu |
vAcAM yatra praNetrI tri-Buvana-mahitA SAradA SAradeMdu-
jyotsnA-Badra-smita-SrI-dhavaLita-kakuBA prema-BAraM baBAraOh Master Anandateertha, you are the preceptor of the three worlds
You have unflinching devotion to the holy feet of Lord Vishnu
Let the holy dust of your lotus feet gracefully purify us.
Bharatidevi, the goddess of speech, who is worshipped by the three worlds
With her moon-lit smile flaunted love and devotion at your holy feet
Let the dust of your such feet always purge (us of all impurities and defects) and purify us.
Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya in his magnum opus Sri Hari Vayustuti expatiates on the greatness of Jagadguru Acharya Madhwa. In the very first sloka or stanza of the stuti, he extols the virtues of the Guru. While it is axiomatic that Acharya Madhwa is the cornucopia of all virtues and qualities (next only to Narayana and Lakshmi) as he is an incarnation of Vayu Deva, Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya commences his hymn with the foremost quality that shines like a crest jewel in the Acharya. And that quality is unwavering, unflinching and steadfast devotion to the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu. Devotion that is eternal and independent of anything and everything.
The scriptures are replete with copious instances and examples of the peerless attributes of Vayu Deva – erudition, valour, effortlessness in performance of any activity, source and sustenance of all life, (relatively) blemishless and hence Jeevottama. Yet, the one quality that is foremost and dwarfs all other qualities, or the one quality that is the source and seed of all other sublime qualities is devotion to Lord Vishnu. Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya amply and aptly buttresses the maxime amet quality that is the progenitor of all other qualities. In this line, while paying obeisance to Acharya Madhwa, Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya, in fact, is restating the philosophy of Acharya itself, viz.¸Hari Sarvottamatva or supremacy of Lord Hari. Flowing and following from the absolute supremacy of Lord Hari, the one quality of Acharya Madhwa that stands out and is the blazing beacon for mankind is devotion to Lord Vishnu. While all other qualities and attributes of the Acharya are peerless too, it is the steadfast devotion to the Supreme Lord that is the raison de etre of all else that follow. Unflinching devotion to Lord Vishnu is the cause; every other positive and sublime quality is an effect therefrom. Hence, this is the most essential and uplifting quality in Acharya that we, as his followers, need to imbibe and inculcate.
Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya states that Acharya Madhwa is the greatest of the great preceptors of the three worlds – this may mean the world as we comprehend it and the upper and nether worlds. It can also be construed to be the preceptor of the fourteen worlds (the six worlds above bhu loka taken as one, bhu loka considered as the second and the seven lokas below constituting the third). In a prayer overflowing with servility, Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya beseeches that the holy and resplendent dust from the feet of Acharya Madhwa grace and purify us.
In the second limb of his extolment, Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya says that Bharati Devi, the Goddess of speech, who is worshipped by all, with her pleasant and moonlike cool charm of the Sharad Rtu, displayed her devotion and adoration at the holy feet of Acharya Madhwa. Bharati Devi is fired by piety and is drawn to the feet of Acharya Madhwa. May the dust at the feet of such an Acharya purge all defects and impurities in us and purify us.
The holy and auspicious Navarathri culminating with Vijaya Dashami (the day of incarnation of Acharya Madhwa) just passed by. It is an apposite time to seek Acharya Madhwa’s benevolence and Bharati Devi’s grace. As they are ever engaged in the service of Lord Vishnu and Lakshmi, our prayers ultimately reach the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu.
Thus, it can be seen that in order of descendance, Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya sings plaudits to Lord Vishnu (and with Him Lakshmi as there is no viyoga or mutual dissociation), Vayu Deva as in Acharya Madhwa and Bharati Devi. By highlighting at the outset, the primary quality of Acharya Madhwa that is at the foundation of all other auspicious qualities – that of devotion to Lord Vishnu, Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya enthuses us to do the same. Further, he elucidates the greatness of the feet of Acharya Madhwa as being worshipped by Bharati Devi and the dust of his feet purifies us.
Ever engaged in the sadhana of Srimadvaishnava Siddhanta of our Guru, Acharya Madhwa and all the Yatis and Dasas who have blazed this noble path. May HVG bless us all